few. To many of the strangers, also, she gave goodly apparel.


Fifth Adventure
How Siegfried First Saw Kriemhild

A vast multitude of them that would attend the hightide drew daily to the
Rhine; and unto those that came for love of the king horses were given
and goodly raiment, and to each his place, even unto two and thirty
princes of the highest and the best. So they tell us.

And the women vied with one another in their attire. Giselher, the
youth, and Gernot, and their two squires, rested not from welcoming both
friends and strangers. They gave courtly greeting unto the warriors.

The guests brought with them to the Rhine, to the tourney, saddles worked
in ruddy gold, and finely-wrought shields, and knightly apparel. And the
sick rejoiced, and they that lay on their beds sore wounded forgot that
death is an hard thing. When the rumour of the festival was noised
abroad, no man took heed more of them that groaned, for each thought only
how he might sojourn there as a guest. Joy without measure had all they
that were found there, and gladness and rejoicing were in Gunther's land.

On Whitsun morning there drew toward the hightide a goodly company of
brave men, fairly clad: five thousand or more, and they made merry far
and wide, and strove with one another in friendly combat.

Now Gunther knew well how, truly and from his heart, the hero of the
Netherland loved his sister whom he had not yet seen, and whose beauty
the people praised before that of all other maidens.